Name those roads you have shunpiked and the alternative.
Florida's Turnpike (SR 91)
Shunpiked using either US 441 or US 27 when going north to Wildwood. I-95 going up on I-95 anyway.
Alligator Alley I-75 former (SR 84)
Shunpiked using either US 41 to the south for points south or US 27 to SR 80 for points north.
Has anyone tried using the unpaved canal access road to the Indian Reservation?
I almost always sunpiked Florida's Turnpike via US 27 or US 441. 441 was actually pretty convenient for me given I lived in east Orlando. It was the cost with the Turnpike, it was the boredom factor.
The only one I can think of that I've specifically chosen a different route that was slower just to avoid a toll is the extremely expensive per mile E-470. If it were priced similar to the Kansas Turnpike, I would take it far more often. Spend $1.50 to save 10 minutes? Sure. Spend $13 to save 10 minutes? Hell no.
Chris
VA-168 in Chesapeake, VA.
I've driven on VA-168 Business Battlefield Blvd far more than the toll road, which I've only taken a few times. It only saves a couple minutes, only a few miles long, and is not worth the now $4 toll - $9 during peak weekends!
Usually on long distance trips to/from the Outer Banks and then a couple times when time was essential.
Oh I have taken all sorts of roads and highways to and from the Chicago area to avoid the various toll roads.
I presume anyone who has the Florida toll transponder has "Sunpiked" :bigass:
Anyways, the low-hanging fruit: Delaware Turnpike, avoided via MD/DE 279, DE 4, DE 896 (I've also tried MD 279, Iron Hill Rd, W Chestnut Hill Rd, DE 896 a few times lately to avoid the ongoing DE 279 construction).
Also the Dulles Greenway via VA 7 & 28, which isn't even significantly slower anymore courtesy of (almost) all signalized intersections being replaced with interchanges along that stretch of VA 7.
Finally this technically isn't a shunpike since a toll is still involved, but by turning left off US 301 NB at the last Maryland intersection, following Sassafras Road to MD 282/DE 299, and reentering the US 301 toll road at exit 2 in Delaware, you only pay $1 at the ramp gantry with E-ZPass instead of $4 at the mainline gantry. (The toll structure is clearly designed to keep rates low for locals and capture most revenue from out-of-state traffic.)
I shunned the Kansas Turnpike on US 24 (and the short piece of US 75 to get back to I-70) because I didn't have cash with me and wasn't sure if they took cards
Sure, I've sunpiked more than a few times in my life. I've also cloudpiked, rainpiked, stormpiked, windpiked, and snowpiked.
I haven't done a lot of active shunpiking, unless you count taking NY 31 and/or NY 104 as an alternate to the Thruway between Rochester and Niagara Falls.
There was also one occasion where I used a section of US 20 to bypass an accident on the Thruway west of Buffalo.
Would sitting in 15-30 minutes worth of traffic on the I-95 South general purpose lanes leaving Northern Virginia and not paying the $30 HO/T lane toll to bypass it be considering shunpiking?
The southern end of Florida's Turnpike, mainly because it's all electronic and E-ZPass isn't interoperable with SunPass. US 1 is a slog, though, I really don't recommend it as a shunpike route. Just pay the toll there unless you're like me and don't do bill by mail.
I also "shunpiked" the NB barrier toll on I-295 coming off the Maine Turnpike by structuring my clinching to hit that one going southbound and clinching the Maine Turnpike Approach Road in the (free for cash and out of state users) EB direction. I also hit Falmouth in the WB direction in that trip - basically I specifically structured it to hit the "special" barriers in the direction that would be tolled regardless of whether they're special or not, with the exception of I-295 SB at exit 103, where it basically acts as an alternative to the mainline barrier (and thus isn't as egregious with respect to transponder discrimination in my mind).
I've occasionally structured trips around the NYC area to reduce toll costs, but those are balanced out by other trips where I didn't, so I'm not counting them.
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 18, 2021, 01:05:52 PM
Would sitting in 15-30 minutes worth of traffic on the I-95 South general purpose lanes leaving Northern Virginia and not paying the $30 HO/T lane toll to bypass it be considering shunpiking?
Possibly. If it does, that time I exited the HOT lanes because I assumed the high toll was only due to the regular backups at the southern merge (which was either not yet extended a mile south or only recently was) as the general lanes were moving at the time. This is single-handedly one of the biggest mistakes I've made on a roadtrip in my entire life.
Last trip to DC we took I-68/I-79 to avoid the PA Turnpike, but honestly, that was more to clinch new miles of interstate rather than to avoid tolls.
Indiana Toll Road: IN 120 (My wife's folks lived near Sturgis, and they commonly went down to Howe and turned east or west, instead of getting on the Toll Road.)
Ohio Turnpike: OH 2
Penn Turnpike, Breezewood to Bedford: US 30 - we were going up toward Altoona anyway, and since they made us get off the freeway, why bother getting back on?
Maine Turnpike: US 1 (since they make it so convenient to get to US 1 from the Welcome Center / Rest Area)
A long time ago, when my family was going to Disney, my dad shunpiked some of the Florida Turnpike using US 27 and US 192. Lovely drive through the orange groves.
There are several ways to shunpike the WV Turnpike between Charleston and Beckley. Many years ago, I intentionally drove the parallel route from Cabin Creek to Beckley just for the heck of it. You have to use the freeway to cross the mountain where Memorial Tunnel was, but you can avoid the Cabin Creek toll plaza. On my most recent trip to the area, I used the county road between Pax and Mossy to shunpike.
I'm looking for a good shunpike route for a possible upcoming trip between the Kanawha Valley and Beckley/Princeton, since my E-ZPass is now registered exclusively to my Vue since WV no longer allows you to move transponders between vehicles and I'd be driving a different vehicle.
Most all the former Kentucky toll roads had alternate routes available, but they weren't the best quality in some cases. Back when the tolls were on the Hal Rogers Parkway, I'd much rather pay them than have to drive KY 80 between Hazard and London. My dad hated paying the tolls on the Mountain Parkway, so he most often used KY 11/KY 15 between Slade and Stanton instead of paying the quarter to enter or exit the turnpike at Slade. If we went to Winchester, we often used KY 52 and KY 89 through Irvine.
When I went to the 50th anniversary Sideling Hill/Ray's Hill bypass meet a few years ago, I completely avoided the PA Turnpike. I had taken the new US 219 north out of Maryland, so I used PA 31 and US 30 between Somerset and Breezewood. On all my trips between Breezewood (where I stayed) and Bedford (the meet's launching point) I used US 30, as I also did when I departed and used US 30 to access US 220 south.
I can't think of anything else I've actively shunpiked, but I know that avoiding the toll on I-95 in Delaware is something of a very common move for lots of people here.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 18, 2021, 12:25:34 PM
Name those roads you have shunpiked and the alternative.
Has anyone tried using the unpaved canal access road to the Indian Reservation?
I've been tempted to try it; there appear to be some dirt two-tracks that are on private property. It would definitely have to be during dry season and with some decent ground clearance.
I've driven along CR 523 from US 441 and US 192 to bypass a decent amount of the Turnpike between Okeechobee and St. Cloud, and it's quite scenic too.
I can't think of too many others right now.
Quote from: formulanone on May 18, 2021, 02:31:12 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 18, 2021, 12:25:34 PM
Name those roads you have shunpiked and the alternative.
Has anyone tried using the unpaved canal access road to the Indian Reservation?
I've been tempted to try it; there appear to be some dirt two-tracks that are on private property. It would definitely have to be during dry season and with some decent ground clearance.
I've driven along CR 523 from US 441 and US 192 to bypass a decent amount of the Turnpike between Okeechobee and St. Cloud, and it's quite scenic too.
I can't think of too many others right now.
I was looking at the Google images and I saw a picture that someone took of his family and family car with no ground clearance about half way through. I see some of those day use and access areas on Google images as well on the access road. It looks doable.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 18, 2021, 01:53:45 PM
There are several ways to shunpike the WV Turnpike between Charleston and Beckley. Many years ago, I intentionally drove the parallel route from Cabin Creek to Beckley just for the heck of it. You have to use the freeway to cross the mountain where Memorial Tunnel was, but you can avoid the Cabin Creek toll plaza. On my most recent trip to the area, I used the county road between Pax and Mossy to shunpike.
I'm looking for a good shunpike route for a possible upcoming trip between the Kanawha Valley and Beckley/Princeton, since my E-ZPass is now registered exclusively to my Vue since WV no longer allows you to move transponders between vehicles and I'd be driving a different vehicle.
Most all the former Kentucky toll roads had alternate routes available, but they weren't the best quality in some cases. Back when the tolls were on the Hal Rogers Parkway, I'd much rather pay them than have to drive KY 80 between Hazard and London. My dad hated paying the tolls on the Mountain Parkway, so he most often used KY 11/KY 15 between Slade and Stanton instead of paying the quarter to enter or exit the turnpike at Slade. If we went to Winchester, we often used KY 52 and KY 89 through Irvine.
When I went to the 50th anniversary Sideling Hill/Ray's Hill bypass meet a few years ago, I completely avoided the PA Turnpike. I had taken the new US 219 north out of Maryland, so I used PA 31 and US 30 between Somerset and Breezewood. On all my trips between Breezewood (where I stayed) and Bedford (the meet's launching point) I used US 30, as I also did when I departed and used US 30 to access US 220 south.
I can't think of anything else I've actively shunpiked, but I know that avoiding the toll on I-95 in Delaware is something of a very common move for lots of people here.
I remember using US 68 to KY 80 in lieu of the Cumberland Parkway to Somerset. It wasn't bad at all. Now that the toll is removed no need to shunpike.
I've been on I-95 through Philly to US 1 before it was completed in lieu of the NJ Turnpike
I-90 through Albany instead of the Berkshire Connector
There's no toll roads around where I live, and when I visit the east coast areas where they're common, I haven't shunpiked. If anything, it feels like I stick to the toll roads a lot. When I'm traveling, a few dollars in tolls is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of hotels, flights, car rentals, etc, and the saved time is usually worth it. And if anything else, I like seeing the roads too. Visiting Orlando in particular I used the toll expressways whenever it was a fast route, even though there were at times reasonable alternatives. Also have used Mass Pike, NJTP, PA Turnpike, and the DE US-301 toll road, and never considered shunpiking any of them.
The closest thing I have is when I visit Trout Lake, WA, I can either take the Hood River toll bridge which is a $2 toll, or use US-197 which is free. Coming from the east, I almost always take 197. But Google says 197 is about 2 miles shorter and 3 minutes longer, essentially a wash either way. If I'm coming from the west (eg. Portland) I'll usually take the toll bridge, but sometimes I'll come from Vancouver on WA-14, but that's for variety and scenery (or if I'm already on the WA side of the border), not to save the $2.
"Sunpiked"? I don't know. I don't generally keep track of the weather on days when I travel.
I don't normally actively seek to avoid tolls these days unless it's minimally inconvenient to do so. With that said, I definitely shunpike the "Tourist Exit" in Maine, i.e., the exit from the northbound Maine Turnpike to northbound I-295 near Portland (Exit 44). Exit 45 is toll-free and takes you less than a mile out of the way, so I go that way if I'm in the area. mtantillo of this forum suggested that maneuver to me.
When I was in my 20s and broke I was more likely to do things like using I-295 in New Jersey to shunpike as much of the Turnpike as possible on my way to or from New York, but I don't bother with that sort of thing anymore and it would be hard for me to think of places where I actively avoid a particular tollbooth these days. I tend not to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike if I don't have to do so, but that's not because of the tolls so much as it is a general dislike for using that road if I don't need to do so.
On our most recent trip north in June 2019, to get to Schenectady I intentionally took a toll road (the Northeast Extension) because I wanted to clinch it and because I also wanted to clinch I-88.
For many years, when my wife and I were first married (and broke), we travelled frequently between our home in Maryland and her family's home in Western Massachusetts.
We always took I-295 through NJ, so I guess that was shunpiking. One time, we were returning home and had almost no cash on us. We took all sorts of backroads through Delaware and NE Maryland to avoid tolls. This was almost 40 years ago, so I don't remember exactly how we did it.
When we would travel to Ohio to visit my family we would always take US-40/48 (before it was completed and renamed I-68) to avoid the PA Turnpike. Honestly, that was more to avoid Breezewood than the tolls.
The northern stretch of the NJ Turnpike is really expensive for such a short distance. Sometimes I will avoid it with 21 to 3 to the eastern spur, but you waste time with that.
In NYC I will rarely take the battery or midtown tunnels since they are easily avoided, but sometimes it's worth taking the midtown tunnel to avoid awful traffic on the queens approach to the 59th street bridge
I have never Sunpiked because I don't own a SunPass.
I moonpike instead.
Quote from: vdeane on May 18, 2021, 01:14:38 PM
Possibly. If it does, that time I exited the HOT lanes because I assumed the high toll was only due to the regular backups at the southern merge (which was either not yet extended a mile south or only recently was) as the general lanes were moving at the time. This is single-handedly one of the biggest mistakes I've made on a roadtrip in my entire life.
The HO/T lanes were extended about 2 miles south a few years ago, but that did nothing but shift the backup. It still is real bad there. They are currently extending the lanes to Fredericksburg, along with building a thru-local setup that will feature 3 "thru" and 3 "local" lanes in each direction, all free of charge, between VA-3, over the Rappahannock River, and US-17. The HO/T lanes southern terminus will tie into this setup, and that's where a lot of the traffic volumes fall off (still high, but the 6 general purpose lanes south of Fredericksburg can reasonably handle it), so hopefully both projects together will - eliminate the southern terminus backup for both the HO/T lanes and the general purpose, and the major backups frequently occurring in the Fredericksburg area.
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/fredericksburg/i-95_southbound_rappahannock_river_crossing.asp
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/fredericksburg/i-95_northbound_rappahannock_river_crossing.asp
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/fredericksburg/i-95_express_lanes_fredericksburg_extension.asp
The other major issue on the I-95 corridor that will not be addressed by any projects though - is the 4th lane drop at the Occoquan that leads to daily 3-6+ mile backups for southbound general purpose traffic. VDOT needs to push ahead and expand the highway to 4 lanes in each direction to at least VA-234, but does not have any plans to. They are currently building an auxiliary lane between the VA-123 South on-ramp and the VA-294 off-ramp, but that will not eliminate that 4th lane drop problem. If they were smart, they would tie that new "auxiliary" lane into the 4th lane so it drops further south. That would not involve that much more construction (merely a brief 5th lane for that on-ramp and dropping it), and would do wonders for traffic.
https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northern-virginia/i-95-south-auxiliary-lane.asp
Taconic Pkwy to Sprain Brook or Saw Mill Parkways rather than the Thruway.
Ohio Turnpike.
Employer will not pay the tolls, so I usually use US 20.
Due to the 407 being very expensive, I pretty much shunpike it all the time unless there's an absolute emergency that requires its use...
Quote from: andrepoiy on May 18, 2021, 04:07:31 PM
Due to the 407 being very expensive, I pretty much shunpike it all the time unless there's an absolute emergency that requires its use...
Same here, at least when I used to be able to travel to Canada. Although in my case, the alternate (ON 403/QEW) is also freeway and not usually congested at the times I used it, so I'm not sure that really counts.
I believe I've only been on the 407 once, and only a short segment of it.
Quote from: tigerwings on May 18, 2021, 04:06:28 PM
Ohio Turnpike.
Employer will not pay the tolls, so I usually use US 20.
Do you get paid an hourly rate for your travel time? I'd think the extra cost of the added time outweighs the tolls.
I've shunpiked the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Toll Road, and all the toll roads near Chicago.
Using US-30, OH-2, US-20 multiple places, US-41 and US-12 mainly.
The last time I was in Florida I was coming from Delray Beach back to Kissimmee and wanted to get back as fast as I could so I took Florida's Turnpike I wasn't paying the toll because the guy had a SunPass in his vehicle.
Quote from: webny99 on May 18, 2021, 04:09:56 PM
Quote from: andrepoiy on May 18, 2021, 04:07:31 PM
Due to the 407 being very expensive, I pretty much shunpike it all the time unless there's an absolute emergency that requires its use...
Same here, at least when I used to be able to travel to Canada. Although in my case, the alternate (ON 403/QEW) is also freeway and not usually congested at the times I used it, so I'm not sure that really counts.
I believe I've only been on the 407 once, and only a short segment of it.
I've taken the 407 part that parallels the 403/QEW for the fun of it, and well, it was certainly a lot emptier than the 403/QEW. Unfortunately, it was $18 without a transponder (weekend rate) and I don't think I saved any time at all.
- Ohio Turnpike between I-280 and I-75 (OH 795)
- Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-80)
- Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA 43/US 40/I-68)
- Tri State Tollway between O'hare and I-80/I-94/IL 394 (I-190/I-90/94). Yes, I used the Jane Addams Tollway that time after shunpiking the Tri State Tollway, but I shunpiked most of that that too another time.
- Jane Addams Tollway east of I-39 (I-74/I-39)
- Dulles Toll Rd between I-66 and IAD airport (Dulles Access Rd)
- 407 ETR (ON 401).
I've shunpiked the Ohio Turnpike (with OH 2) and the ITR (usually up into MI) not so much to save money as because those pikes are so damn boring! Shunned the NYT between Rochester and Buffalo on NY 33 for the same basic reason -- although pacing a CSX WB container train served as an additional incentive!
I have most shunpiked the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) through Lake County, IL via Skokie Highway (US 41). If I am transiting the Chicagoland area, I'll continue via I-94 (and, if necessary, I-57) through the city, and if going eastward, crossing to the Indiana Toll Road (reasonable toll rate) just east of I-65, mixing it up with all of the big-rig trucks on the I-80/94 Borman Expressway.
Most of the day, I-94 through Chicago is also faster than the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) around.
Mike
Roads I have shunpiked:
1. I-95 (Delaware). So easy and so short to avoid the toll by any number of routes as described upthread.
2. NJ-700 part of New Jersey Turnpike, Exits 1 to 6 - now possible by staying on I-95 through Center City Philadelphia, but I-95 there is frequently congested, so it's not something I normally do. Southbound I-95 is quite expensive this way because of the Pennsylvania Turnpike toll point at their end of the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge.
3. I-95 and NJ-700 parts of New Jersey Turnpike between Exits 1 and 7A, by taking I-295 and I-195. As with the I-95 shunpike through Center City Philly, not my preferred route. The New Jersey Turnpike tolls have always seemed quite reasonable, and much of the Pike has an 85th percentile speed of 75 MPH or better, so what's not to like? And the frequent service plazas are useful for breaks.
4. Before I-95 was completed in Maryland with the Fort McHenry Tunnel, I would shunpike the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway (I-895) to avoid severe congestion there by taking I-695 through the northern suburbs of Baltimore. The Fort McHenry Tunnel eliminated most of that recurring congestion, so now I just take I-895.
5. U.S. 30 west of Breezewood, Pennsylvania is a pretty good road, and can be used to shunpike the I-70/I-76 part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike without spending too much time to Bedford. Then PA-31, a pretty good road, can be used all the way to "free" I-70 west of New Stanton.
6. CA-73 (San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor) in Orange County, California is a toll road. Since it connects at both ends to the San Diego Freeway (I-405 at the north end and I-5 at the south end), just staying on "the 405 freeway" and "the 5 freeway" is a way to shunpike it. But of course traffic is much heavier on I-405 and I-5 than it is on CA-73.
7. As mentioned nearby, the Taconic State Parkway is a way to shunpike a long section of the I-87 part of the New York State Thruway, and probably less traffic (when will the Thruway Authority widen I-87 from Harriman to Albany?). But - entering the parkway from the Thruway Berkshire Section involves a toll.
US 1 or US 130 to I-295 (or the old I-95) to shunpike the NJTP
DE 896 to DE 4 to DE/MD 279 to shunpike the DE Turnpike toll.
US 1 to MD/DE 273 to shunpike the Tydings or Hatem bridge (and the above)
US 20 or MA 9 to shunpike the Mass Pike
The Grand Parkway in Texas. I used the service roads to avoid paying Dollar Rent A Car a 12.50 a day toll fee. That is one state pretty much you can shunpike toll roads easy except for Sam Houston Parkway over the Ship Canal and the Dallas North Tollway in its entirety which lack feeder roads long side them.
I used I-80 in PA to avoid the PA Turnpike.
I used I-76 to avoid the OH Turnpike.
I use Edgewood Drive in Lakeland to avoid the Polk West Toll Plaza in Lakeland, FL for FL 570.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
5. U.S. 30 west of Breezewood, Pennsylvania is a pretty good road, and can be used to shunpike the I-70/I-76 part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike without spending too much time to Bedford. Then PA-31, a pretty good road, can be used all the way to "free" I-70 west of New Stanton.
I have used PA 31 once and was surprised that it was a pretty good road for a PA two-laner...so agreed.
The combination of I-68 and US-220 is a very good way to shunpike to Bedford as well, and the combination of I-68 and the new US-219 is an excellent way to shunpike to Somerset and Seven Springs. I was quite impressed with how quick (and empty) the connection was from Somerset down to I-68 when we used that road last October.
Quote from: vdeane on May 18, 2021, 01:14:38 PM
The southern end of Florida's Turnpike, mainly because it's all electronic and E-ZPass isn't interoperable with SunPass. US 1 is a slog, though, I really don't recommend it as a shunpike route. Just pay the toll there unless you're like me and don't do bill by mail.
Before I had E-ZPass, I once did something similar with the Mass Pike. Leaving Worcester on I-290 and ultimately headed for I-84, I used US 20 between Auburn & Sturbridge to avoid dealing with tolls-by-mail. (If I had been coming all the way from Boston to I-84, I probably would have just taken the Pike, but for one exit it didn't add much time and US 20 is a good alternative in this area.)
I finally opened an E-ZPass account several weeks later and typically use the Pike whenever I'm in MA now - I still occasionally use US 20 between Auburn & Sturbridge, but for a non-shunpiking reason. (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1388535,-72.014604,3a,75y,132.71h,85.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sF4GbYBuJNQ9bVQMQN5bSdw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
2. NJ-700 part of New Jersey Turnpike, Exits 1 to 6 - now possible by staying on I-95 through Center City Philadelphia, but I-95 there is frequently congested, so it's not something I normally do. Southbound I-95 is quite expensive this way because of the Pennsylvania Turnpike toll point at their end of the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge.
In addition to the WB/SB PATP bridge toll, it appears that the NJTA includes some sort of bridge surcharge in the exit 6 ticket toll. For example, when heading south on the NJTP exiting at 6 incurs a higher toll than continuing to 5 or 4 (and 3 is only slightly higher than 6).
Another "partial shunpike" I tried once was using I-195/NJ 29 to the US 1 Trenton-Morrisville Bridge, then picking up I-295 to I-95 thru Philly. In addition to shunpiking the southern NJTP, the Trenton-Morrisville Bridge is significantly cheaper than any of the bridges downstream (and can also be easily shunpiked via the nearby Trenton Makes Bridge, but $1.25 with E-ZPass isn't bad IMHO).
Quote from: jmacswimmer on May 19, 2021, 11:32:28 AM
Quote from: vdeane on May 18, 2021, 01:14:38 PM
The southern end of Florida's Turnpike, mainly because it's all electronic and E-ZPass isn't interoperable with SunPass. US 1 is a slog, though, I really don't recommend it as a shunpike route. Just pay the toll there unless you're like me and don't do bill by mail.
Before I had E-ZPass, I once did something similar with the Mass Pike. Leaving Worcester on I-290 and ultimately headed for I-84, I used US 20 between Auburn & Sturbridge to avoid dealing with tolls-by-mail. (If I had been coming all the way from Boston to I-84, I probably would have just taken the Pike, but for one exit it didn't add much time and US 20 is a good alternative in this area.)
Another example would be during the pandemic, when my parents and I shunpiked the Thruway between Rochester and Canandaigua because they didn't yet have E-ZPass and the Thruway was in their emergency toll collection mode of the pandemic. We ended up going NY 96->NY 444->US 20/NY 5, bypassing not only the Thruway but also NY 332 (we discovered this route decades ago when NY 332 was being widened to four lanes and the construction often caused backups). Going back we just took NY 332 up to NY 96.
My parents also regularly shunpike between Rochester and I-81 by taking NY 104/NY 104B/NY 3/NY 13, though I'm not sure that counts as the main issue is that they find NY 104 more interesting, not the tolls. Granted, they've been going up to the 1000 Islands for a long time, so I have no idea what the original motivation was. Maybe the extra mileage of the all-freeway route made no sense in the NMSL era. Or maybe it started with tolls but no longer was by the time I was born. Who knows.
When I lived in New Orleans, before they removed the tolls from the Crescent City Connection, if I didn't have any change or cash or just didn't feel like paying, I used to cross the river using the Huey P Long bridge on clearview parkway when I had to go to and from the Westbank.
Quote from: jmacswimmer on May 19, 2021, 11:32:28 AM
Quote from: vdeane on May 18, 2021, 01:14:38 PM
The southern end of Florida's Turnpike, mainly because it's all electronic and E-ZPass isn't interoperable with SunPass. US 1 is a slog, though, I really don't recommend it as a shunpike route. Just pay the toll there unless you're like me and don't do bill by mail.
Before I had E-ZPass, I once did something similar with the Mass Pike. Leaving Worcester on I-290 and ultimately headed for I-84, I used US 20 between Auburn & Sturbridge to avoid dealing with tolls-by-mail. (If I had been coming all the way from Boston to I-84, I probably would have just taken the Pike, but for one exit it didn't add much time and US 20 is a good alternative in this area.)
I finally opened an E-ZPass account several weeks later and typically use the Pike whenever I'm in MA now - I still occasionally use US 20 between Auburn & Sturbridge, but for a non-shunpiking reason. (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1388535,-72.014604,3a,75y,132.71h,85.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sF4GbYBuJNQ9bVQMQN5bSdw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
2. NJ-700 part of New Jersey Turnpike, Exits 1 to 6 - now possible by staying on I-95 through Center City Philadelphia, but I-95 there is frequently congested, so it's not something I normally do. Southbound I-95 is quite expensive this way because of the Pennsylvania Turnpike toll point at their end of the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge.
In addition to the WB/SB PATP bridge toll, it appears that the NJTA includes some sort of bridge surcharge in the exit 6 ticket toll. For example, when heading south on the NJTP exiting at 6 incurs a higher toll than continuing to 5 or 4 (and 3 is only slightly higher than 6).
Another "partial shunpike" I tried once was using I-195/NJ 29 to the US 1 Trenton-Morrisville Bridge, then picking up I-295 to I-95 thru Philly. In addition to shunpiking the southern NJTP, the Trenton-Morrisville Bridge is significantly cheaper than any of the bridges downstream (and can also be easily shunpiked via the nearby Trenton Makes Bridge, but $1.25 with E-ZPass isn't bad IMHO).
I shunpiked by taking US 20 off of I-84 in Sturbridge, MA to I-295. That was not a bad drive at all.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 07:39:58 AM
I shunpiked by taking US 20 off of I-84 in Sturbridge, MA to I-295. That was not a bad drive at all.
I-290?
Quote from: 1 on May 20, 2021, 07:41:29 AM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 07:39:58 AM
I shunpiked by taking US 20 off of I-84 in Sturbridge, MA to I-295. That was not a bad drive at all.
I-290?
Yes I-290.
Quote from: jayhawkco on May 18, 2021, 12:27:50 PM
The only one I can think of that I've specifically chosen a different route that was slower just to avoid a toll is the extremely expensive per mile E-470. If it were priced similar to the Kansas Turnpike, I would take it far more often. Spend $1.50 to save 10 minutes? Sure. Spend $13 to save 10 minutes? Hell no.
Chris
i'm with you there. i have occasion to visit a friend on the east side of the metro area (near aurora, actually) and i'll do 270 to 70 unless i space out the exit, then just use 70.
270 is a hot mess, tho.
Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of shunpiking a given route?
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 08:33:35 AM
Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of shunpiking a given route?
VA-168 toll road.
6 miles long, saves 2-3 minutes during off peak compared to parallel route VA-168 Business, and saves $4 and up to $9 during peak weekends. There's only 3 traffic signals on the parallel route, it's mostly free-flowing rural 45-55 mph road. The toll road is only 55 mph.
Seems to be worth the benefit.
Now, the other toll facility in the city, US-17 Dominion Blvd (a quick 3 minute trip with virtually never any traffic), toll rates are about $1.22 with E-ZPass and shunpiking it coming from I-64 can easily add 20-30 minutes, or more during peak hours due to congestion on parallel routes and 5-10 or so extra miles. In my opinion, it's not worth avoiding it in that case. Some people still do, but most simply pay the toll. It's simply far more convenient.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel would be one wherein using the toll route I believe would be more efficient than driving all over VA, potentially a sliver of DC and MD just to get back to the Delmarva part of VA.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 09:51:18 AM
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel would be one wherein using the toll route I believe would be more efficient than driving all over VA, potentially a sliver of DC and MD just to get back to the Delmarva part of VA.
Agreed, and mainly due to traffic. I-64 and I-95 would only be 15-20 minutes longer if they were completely free flowing, and honestly the better routes. But given it's the I-95 corridor between Richmond and DC, plus the whole greater DC / Baltimore area itself, makes it much longer unless you're traveling at midnight.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 09:51:18 AM
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel would be one wherein using the toll route I believe would be more efficient than driving all over VA, potentially a sliver of DC and MD just to get back to the Delmarva part of VA.
Even more so if you drive even further out of your way to avoid the tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Gov. Harry Nice Bridge. (I assume someone who is dedicated enough to drive that far out of the way to avoid the Bridge-Tunnel toll would also take steps to avoid the tolls for the tunnels/Key Bridge in the Baltimore area, the toll at the Susquehanna on northbound I-95, and the Delaware Turnpike toll, but depending on where you're going to or from it would be absurd to go around the north end of the Chesapeake to avoid the Bay Bridge–say, if you were going from Norfolk to Queenstown.)
Quote from: vdeane on May 19, 2021, 07:53:11 PM
Another example would be during the pandemic, when my parents and I shunpiked the Thruway between Rochester and Canandaigua because they didn't yet have E-ZPass and the Thruway was in their emergency toll collection mode of the pandemic. We ended up going NY 96->NY 444->US 20/NY 5, bypassing not only the Thruway but also NY 332 (we discovered this route decades ago when NY 332 was being widened to four lanes and the construction often caused backups).
NY 96 to NY 444 is our default route to a number of destinations - Bristol Mtn, Gannett Hill, Naples, and so on. I've probably used it
more times than NY 332, and that's saying something.
Quote from: vdeane on May 19, 2021, 07:53:11 PM
My parents also regularly shunpike between Rochester and I-81 by taking NY 104/NY 104B/NY 3/NY 13, though I'm not sure that counts as the main issue is that they find NY 104 more interesting, not the tolls. Granted, they've been going up to the 1000 Islands for a long time, so I have no idea what the original motivation was. Maybe the extra mileage of the all-freeway route made no sense in the NMSL era. Or maybe it started with tolls but no longer was by the time I was born. Who knows.
Same here. Of the dozen or so times I've been on I-81 north of Syracuse, I've used some combination of NY 104/NY 3/NY 49 all but once or twice. However, I'm not sure it counts as shunpiking for a different reason - it's actually faster from where I'm at (and from most origins north of NY 441/ east of NY 590).
NY 104B>NY 3>NY 13 is interesting. Been that way to some of the east shore beaches, but never to access I-81. Google thinks its a few minutes faster to just use NY 104 all the way through (or use NY 3 between Hannibal and Mexico to bypass Oswego).
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 20, 2021, 09:20:58 AM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 08:33:35 AM
Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of shunpiking a given route?
VA-168 toll road.
6 miles long, saves 2-3 minutes during off peak compared to parallel route VA-168 Business, and saves $4 and up to $9 during peak weekends. There's only 3 traffic signals on the parallel route, it's mostly free-flowing rural 45-55 mph road. The toll road is only 55 mph.
Most of the 55 mph zones on VA 168 BUSINESS south of Hillcrest Parkway were lowered to 50 recently, but it's honestly still the better option unless Chesapeake increases the speed limit on VA 168 (and even then I can't see myself spending $18 to drive it both ways during a trip to the OBX). I notice there have been numerous proposals during the past few years to raise the speed limit to 65 but there's also been a lot of community opposition.
When my one college buddy was still alive and lived in Chicago and I had to get back to Omaha, I did all of IL 38 to Dixon. I believe I did IL 2 from there to Sterling and eventually got on I-88 at the US 30 westbound exit.
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
If you're using I-80 to avoid the Kansas Turnpike in a trip originating from Louisville, that only makes sense if you are going to Denver or points west, and even then you're adding 150 miles to your trip just to avoid Missouri?
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
Speaking of US-36, why is the speed limit only 65 mph and not 70 mph?
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
If there's a warrant for your arrest, you're going to be found out if you get stopped for any traffic violation in any state. I got pulled over in Kansas a few years ago and the cop (who, it turns out, was originally from a county two counties away from me) ran my name for any outstanding warrants.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 21, 2021, 02:39:27 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
If there's a warrant for your arrest, you're going to be found out if you get stopped for any traffic violation in any state. I got pulled over in Kansas a few years ago and the cop (who, it turns out, was originally from a county two counties away from me) ran my name for any outstanding warrants.
Of course. I was just using that as what I would consider an extreme example.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 21, 2021, 02:39:27 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
If there's a warrant for your arrest, you're going to be found out if you get stopped for any traffic violation in any state. I got pulled over in Kansas a few years ago and the cop (who, it turns out, was originally from a county two counties away from me) ran my name for any outstanding warrants.
I originally read this as he actually found outstanding warrants on you :-o
Quote from: hbelkins on May 21, 2021, 02:39:27 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
If there's a warrant for your arrest, you're going to be found out if you get stopped for any traffic violation in any state. I got pulled over in Kansas a few years ago and the cop (who, it turns out, was originally from a county two counties away from me) ran my name for any outstanding warrants.
Now if they extradite back to the county of origin is another story (assuming not getting stopped in the original jurisdiction.)
I've never shunpiked for the purposes of avoiding tolls, but since I've lived most of my life in places where I often used the Ohio Turnpike, Mass Pike, and NY Thruway for long distance travel, I've done alternate routes a bunch. For example, I drove from Northhampton to Syracuse using MA 9, US 20, and NY 92, and I did a roundtrip from Akron to Michigan where one way I took SR 2 from I-90 in Cleveland to I-280 in Oregon, then on the way back drove I-280 to SR 420 to US 23 to SR 18 to US 224.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 21, 2021, 03:13:45 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 21, 2021, 02:39:27 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on May 21, 2021, 09:39:54 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
I-70 between StL and KC may be a pain to drive sometimes with all the truck traffic and substandard design features, but I'm not sure if it's worth avoiding to take a far northerly detour. There's also US 36 in the state as an alternative to I-70.
I interpreted ctkatz's statement more broadly than that, though–the comment wasn't "I avoid I-70 in Missouri" but rather "I avoid Missouri whenever possible," which I assume means the state as a whole. I was curious why, recognizing that someone might not want to say (e.g., if there were a warrant for your arrest, that would be a very good reason to avoid a particular state, but I would understand not wanting to explain that reason publicly!).
If there's a warrant for your arrest, you're going to be found out if you get stopped for any traffic violation in any state. I got pulled over in Kansas a few years ago and the cop (who, it turns out, was originally from a county two counties away from me) ran my name for any outstanding warrants.
Now if they extradite back to the county of origin is another story (assuming not getting stopped in the original jurisdiction.)
Yeah, it really depends on what the warrant is for. If it's for failure to pay traffic tickets, they may not even extradite you from another county in the same state. If it's for failure to appear for a misdemeanor, that probably only gets statewide extradition. You have to have a felony warrant before they will get you from another state.
In a revelation that will surprise no one, I've done most of my shunpiking in the Northeast. The places that come to mind are the following, all of which are from my main road trip to the area from Chicago in 2014:
Because I wanted to travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but not too much, I took I-79 and I-68 to cover a bit of the distance, before doubling back on US-220 and getting on there. Then, I got off at Breezewood, and shook my fist at the area while driving by.
Also, I didn't want to pay the tolls over the Susquehanna River on I-95 or US-40, and so I trekked out to US-1 and crossed there. I did not know it was a dam bridge, and so that turned out to be something of a nice surprise.
To avoid the toll on I-95 in Delaware, I continued to stay to the north, before coming back. At some point, I thought I ran a stop sign, but it turns out I was going under a one-lane bridge, and I had the right of way.
I also avoided a significant part of the New Jersey Turnpike, admittedly the cheaper part, by taking I-295 up to US-206, and getting on there. Here, I drove on the newly completed dual-dual configuration, right after it had been open. The older chunk, if I recall correctly, was closed for some kind of refurbishment.
In New York area, I made my way up to the Tappan Zee bridge to avoid the tolls on both the George Washington Bridge and the New England Thruway. So, while I had to pay some toll, it was less than it would have been if I had followed my general route of staying on I-95.
For crossing Boston, I specifically took I-93, not only to experience the tunnel and the bridge, but to avoid the various tolls.
In New Hampshire and Maine, I did not do any shunpiking, and in fact, I got caught in the extra toll for exit 44 in the Portland area.
Also, although the toll on the New York Thruway is not all that high, I avoided a bit of it by staying on NY-8 through the Adirondacks.
I also paid the toll for bridges into and out of Canada to avoid the tolls on the Indiana Toll Road, the Ohio Turnpike, and the westernmost part of the New York Thruway. So, again, I paid a bit here, but saved money overall. Plus I got to go to Canada, and see the orange lane lines that that they use in construction zones. (I don't like them.)
Then, finally, after all the tolls that I did pay on this trip, which totaled 46.13$, I had no desire to pay any more, and so when I returned to the western suburbs of Chicago, instead of taking I-294, which I had taken at the beginning, I took I-94 into the city and then I-290 out. Traffic, miraculously, was not that bad, and I really enjoyed seeing the skyline to end the trip.
(https://i.imgur.com/4d7ROiT.png)
Avoiding the only toll road in Seattle proper (the still-unnamed SR 99 tunnel) is easy enough: just follow your choice of city streets. For me, the fastest northbound route is generally Alaskan Way, while 5th Avenue wins out for southbound trips because of its signal timing.
Quote from: jayhawkco on May 18, 2021, 12:27:50 PM
The only one I can think of that I've specifically chosen a different route that was slower just to avoid a toll is the extremely expensive per mile E-470. If it were priced similar to the Kansas Turnpike, I would take it far more often. Spend $1.50 to save 10 minutes? Sure. Spend $13 to save 10 minutes? Hell no.
Chris
I'll shunpike E-470 as well. If I hit the south metro at 5pm, I'll take E-470/NW Parkway around. Otherwise, I'll avoid it, or partially shunpike via I-225 and Pena Blvd to pick up E-470 by the airport. I'll also sometimes shunpike the NW Parkway using surface streets like Midway to Sheridan Parkway to CO 7 if I'm heading north.
In 2017 I shunpiked the KS Turnpike (and I-70 in general) heading east from Colorado using I-76 to I-80 to NE 2 to I-29 to US 36 to I-72 to I-74 connecting back to I-70 in Indianapolis.
I've used OH-7 to OH-14/PA-51 to PA 60 (now I-376) to I-79 to I-68 to avoid the PA Turnpike the last time I went to DC (many years ago).
I shunpiked the Ohio Turnpike off and on for years when I lived in Ohio depending on my destination. Often it was easier to take OH 2 between Cleveland and Port Clinton or US 20. Had there been an exit fairly close (say OH 60), I would have used the Turnpike much more often.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
7. As mentioned nearby, the Taconic State Parkway is a way to shunpike a long section of the I-87 part of the New York State Thruway, and probably less traffic
The Taconic can be a really nice drive, but it's awful at night. The risk of a deer collision alone means I will take the thruway 100% of the time after dark even though I live right off the Taconic. Between I-84 and Westchester the Taconic also gets pretty hairy and besides the novelty if you've never been that way, it's really not an enjoyable drive.
The Thruway is also incredibly cheap compared to neighboring states. From the former start of the ticket system to the Northway in Albany is only ~$6 for ~100 miles. For that price you can't even get from the GWB to Elizabeth on the NJ turnpike, a distance of 12 miles.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
(when will the Thruway Authority widen I-87 from Harriman to Albany?)
Probably never.
I-295 and US 1 for the NJTP in many circumstances.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
What is so bad about driving the speed limit? I like to set my cruise control to the speed limit.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 22, 2021, 11:44:47 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
What is so bad about driving the speed limit? I like to set my cruise control to the speed limit.
As long as you stay in the right line, that's fine.
But, getting stuck behind you on a two-lane road would be frustrating, you Nestor.
I remember when Jake told me we were the ones who were putting people in danger for driving too close to the limit.
* PA Turnpike using I-68
* Indiana Toll Road multiple times, usually I-94 is at least partially involved.
* Kansas Turnpike using K-10 and US 24 (can't remember how I went through the Lawrence area since this was before the South Lawrence Trafficway was built).
* Ohio Turnpike west of Cleveland via OH 2
* Chicago Skyway using I-94 and the 130th/Brainard corridor to access the Indiana Toll Road via US 41. I think I also used 95th once to pick up the Toll Road at the state line.
* I-88 multiple times using IL 2, IL 38, US 30, IL 64, I-80, or Perry Road eastward from Exit 93 on I-39.
* I-90/Jane Addams Tollway multiple times, US 20 is frequently involved in at least part of the route. Back before tolls were collected at the Genoa Road exit I would frequently switch to US 20 at Belvidere to save a $1.50 and stop for gas.
* Tri-State Tollway multiple times. For the northern section I've commonly some combination of IL 53, Lake Cook Road, and US 41, sometimes just US 41 and local routes to save a $1.40 at the Waukegan Toll. If time isn't a concern I've used US 45 and IL 83; US 12 and IL 59, or some combination of county roads when heading towards Wisconsin. For the southern half I've used IL 83 and some combination of local roads or braved traffic through the Chicago loop.
* I-355 multiple times using IL 53, IL 59, IL 83, or local roads (frequently Finley Road, Belmont Road, 63rd Street, and Lemont Road).
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
This situation reminds me exactly of I-64 between Williamsburg and Richmond, and that's only 30 miles. The insistency to drive across both lanes at the speed limit or even 3-5 mph below in the 70 mph zone. I've done more passing on the right there than any other stretch of highway I've driven.
Unfortunately, there's no other good alternative that's built to freeway standards. There's parallel routes and US-460 but those only max out at 55 mph and I'd still end up going slower. Less frustrating maybe though, but unless I-64 is just straight congested, gridlock, I'll still usually stick with it.
What's funny, is I've driven on US-58 out to I-95, which is only 60 mph the whole way (it's a slog, the highway is wide open and can easily be 70 mph if it wasn't due to artificial speed laws), and have joined "pacts" moving at 75-close to 80 mph. I can't even get that luck on the 70 mph highway leaving the area - actually one trip I took a couple months ago actually was moving 75-80 mph on I-64 and it was a miracle, but that's never happened again since - but have on the 60 mph highway.
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 22, 2021, 12:27:01 PM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
This situation reminds me exactly of I-64 between Williamsburg and Richmond, and that's only 30 miles. The insistency to drive across both lanes at the speed limit or even 3-5 mph below in the 70 mph zone. I've done more passing on the right there than any other stretch of highway I've driven.
Unfortunately, there's no other good alternative that's built to freeway standards. There's parallel routes and US-460 but those only max out at 55 mph and I'd still end up going slower. Less frustrating maybe though, but unless I-64 is just straight congested, gridlock, I'll still usually stick with it.
What's funny, is I've driven on US-58 out to I-95, which is only 60 mph the whole way (it's a slog, the highway is wide open and can easily be 70 mph if it wasn't due to artificial speed laws), and have joined "pacts" moving at 75-close to 80 mph. I can't even get that luck on the 70 mph highway leaving the area - actually one trip I took a couple months ago actually was moving 75-80 mph on I-64 and it was a miracle, but that's never happened again since - but have on the 60 mph highway.
Break up the slog by taking the Business 58 routes. You see more of the country that way.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 22, 2021, 11:44:47 AM
What is so bad about driving the speed limit? I like to set my cruise control to the speed limit.
It's too slow, when you can most times drive safely at a speed greater than an arbitrarily set number.
Back to the subject, I have never intentionally done this, but lots of people now shunpike the I-65 toll bridges crossing the Ohio River. To me, having to deal with downtown Louisville traffic lights is too much of a hassle to be worth the toll savings. Ditto the time and mileage addition if one uses I-265 and I-64 (Sherman Minton Bridge) to shunpike.
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass. I don't go more than 8 over in less than 75 zones on interstates so I'm not going excessively fast but these cars pretty much refuse to move and I have to pass on the right. it harshes a good groove when you have to cancel cruise control every time you come up to traffic and can't re-engage for 20 minutes a time.
I've seen governed semis passing cars on the left in non construction straight as an arrow areas in 70 mph zones multiple times. this was on 70 and 44, the little bit of 55 and 57 I was on was so empty it wasn't a problem. maybe I'll reconsider missouri when they put another lane in each direction in.
when I travel, if I can be where I need to be by 10 pm local time, extra distance traveled plays no factor in my route planning.
I'm with ya on that although I've never really paid much attention to my experiences in other states. But I can't stand it when I'm driving on a road that has multiple lanes but I have to get over in the right lane to pass someone going extremely slow in the left lane. Like why do you even bother getting on the freeway for?
Quote from: hbelkins on May 22, 2021, 01:58:25 PM
It's too slow, when you can most times drive safely at a speed greater than an arbitrarily set number.
It makes a tricky situation, because not only that, but when speed limits are artificially low, it can also create a situation where you're a hazard on the road because the actual flow of traffic is much greater. Do you break the law to match the flow and scientifically be in a safer situation, or do you follow the law and risk it safety wise?
If speed limits universally were set appropriately largely based off actual design and 85th percentile speeds, particularly on freeways and rural roads, without artificial laws or hesitancy for some DOT's to dare post above 55 mph or 60 mph in urban areas where it's fully reasonable, then maybe speed limits would be more respected and largely obeyed, allowing law enforcement to target the true reckless drivers, not just the " dangerous, reckless speeder" doing 70 mph in a 55 mph on a wide open, straight 8 lane highway, or better, the "dangerous, reckless speeder" driving 70-75 mph on a wide open, rural, in the middle of nowhere, 4 lane divided highway that's artificially set at 55 mph or 60 mph due to an artificial law because it has a little median break every couple miles and a one lane road connection carrying 5 AADT, and the occasional house on the side. Or the ones that are limited access, high quality, but have that occasional intersection. Looking at you Maryland.
It's amazing how in some areas that have reasonable speed limits, look at Texas with 75 mph on non-limited-access roads and 65-70 mph urban speed limits, compliance within 5-10 mph is usually much higher than areas that want to artificially post 55 mph on these roads. Now, I will say that I do believe Texas rural interstates should go to 80 mph, but even then 75 mph is not
that bad.
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 22, 2021, 05:24:56 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 22, 2021, 01:58:25 PM
It's too slow, when you can most times drive safely at a speed greater than an arbitrarily set number.
It makes a tricky situation, because not only that, but when speed limits are artificially low, it can also create a situation where you're a hazard on the road because the actual flow of traffic is much greater. Do you break the law to match the flow and scientifically be in a safer situation, or do you follow the law and risk it safety wise?
I find that problem on I-465 where the speed limit is 55 mph and everyone is going 70-75 mph. I love how I have adaptive cruise control and can just blend in with traffic using it so I've taken advantage of that myself.
Driving in big cities sucks.
Quote from: ctkatz on May 22, 2021, 11:31:51 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: ctkatz on May 21, 2021, 09:11:25 AM
I shunpike the kansas turnpike by using i 65, 74, and 80. I do it not because it's a toll road although it is a factor but because i 70 goes through missouri and I avoid missouri whenever possible.
Dare we ask why?
lots of (entertaining) theories upthread, some plausible. but the main reason I avoid missouri when possible is that this has been the only state I've driven in where the drivers don't go more than 3 mph over the limit in the left lane. it seems that every native driver makes it a personal mission to enforce the speed limit laws and won't move right to let faster traffic pass.
Interesting, I wondered if everyone had that experience, or if it was just me. I lived in Springfield for a year and found that driving the speed limit I was often the fastest one on the road.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 22, 2021, 01:10:34 PM
Break up the slog by taking the Business 58 routes. You see more of the country that way.
Sometimes, less is more.
Quote from: Flint1979 on May 22, 2021, 06:25:23 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 22, 2021, 05:24:56 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 22, 2021, 01:58:25 PM
It's too slow, when you can most times drive safely at a speed greater than an arbitrarily set number.
It makes a tricky situation, because not only that, but when speed limits are artificially low, it can also create a situation where you're a hazard on the road because the actual flow of traffic is much greater. Do you break the law to match the flow and scientifically be in a safer situation, or do you follow the law and risk it safety wise?
I find that problem on I-465 where the speed limit is 55 mph and everyone is going 70-75 mph. I love how I have adaptive cruise control and can just blend in with traffic using it so I've taken advantage of that myself.
Driving in big cities sucks.
A similar situation with the I-495 Capitol Beltway. Traffic in excess of 70+ mph, but a 55 mph limit. There have been efforts to increase it, but nothing has ever came as such. The highway used to be posted at 70 mph in Maryland pre NMSL, and 65 mph in Virginia, so the highway is certainly engineered for those speeds, but it was never reverted.
The closest thing would be the construction of two HO/T lanes in each direction on the western portion in Virginia, which are posted at 65 mph. The general purpose lanes remain 55 mph.
I-264 in Virginia Beach is another similar situation IMO. 8 lane highway, relatively straight, traffic in excess of 70+ mph, speed limit 55 mph. The highway was also posted at 65 mph and built with a 70 mph design speed pre NMSL. It should be raised to 65 mph. Then pretty much any of the highways on I-64 south of I-264, I-664, etc. need to go up to 65 mph but are stuck at 55-60 mph.
At least some places, like Michigan or Texas, and even California, have reasonable urban speed limits (65-70 mph). North Carolina also comes to mind, I-40 remains 65 mph through Raleigh, I-87 coming right up to I-440 is 70 mph, I-540 is 70 mph, and I-485 around Charlotte is 70 mph. Though, like I-77 and I-85 through Charlotte and I-440 around Raleigh slog at 55-60 mph, so it's certainly not perfect there. And then I-40, I-77, and I-85 hold at 65 mph far outside their metros (beyond the I-540 and I-485 beltways which are 70 mph themselves) when they could bump to 70 mph.
If I go 65 mph on the Beltway, I'm not passing anybody, and usually someone will try to tailgate me even if I'm in the far right lane.
The traffic study VDOT did before raising the speed limit to 65 in the HO/T lanes showed that a 70-mph limit would have been justified, but VDOT said they never considered posting 70. (The HO/T lanes were originally posted at 55, like the general-purpose lanes, because of the way the statute governing speed limits is written to require a study before posting something above 55.)
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 23, 2021, 04:43:44 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on May 22, 2021, 06:25:23 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on May 22, 2021, 05:24:56 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 22, 2021, 01:58:25 PM
It's too slow, when you can most times drive safely at a speed greater than an arbitrarily set number.
It makes a tricky situation, because not only that, but when speed limits are artificially low, it can also create a situation where you're a hazard on the road because the actual flow of traffic is much greater. Do you break the law to match the flow and scientifically be in a safer situation, or do you follow the law and risk it safety wise?
I find that problem on I-465 where the speed limit is 55 mph and everyone is going 70-75 mph. I love how I have adaptive cruise control and can just blend in with traffic using it so I've taken advantage of that myself.
Driving in big cities sucks.
A similar situation with the I-495 Capitol Beltway. Traffic in excess of 70+ mph, but a 55 mph limit. There have been efforts to increase it, but nothing has ever came as such. The highway used to be posted at 70 mph in Maryland pre NMSL, and 65 mph in Virginia, so the highway is certainly engineered for those speeds, but it was never reverted.
The closest thing would be the construction of two HO/T lanes in each direction on the western portion in Virginia, which are posted at 65 mph. The general purpose lanes remain 55 mph.
I-264 in Virginia Beach is another similar situation IMO. 8 lane highway, relatively straight, traffic in excess of 70+ mph, speed limit 55 mph. The highway was also posted at 65 mph and built with a 70 mph design speed pre NMSL. It should be raised to 65 mph. Then pretty much any of the highways on I-64 south of I-264, I-664, etc. need to go up to 65 mph but are stuck at 55-60 mph.
At least some places, like Michigan or Texas, and even California, have reasonable urban speed limits (65-70 mph). North Carolina also comes to mind, I-40 remains 65 mph through Raleigh, I-87 coming right up to I-440 is 70 mph, I-540 is 70 mph, and I-485 around Charlotte is 70 mph. Though, like I-77 and I-85 through Charlotte and I-440 around Raleigh slog at 55-60 mph, so it's certainly not perfect there. And then I-40, I-77, and I-85 hold at 65 mph far outside their metros (beyond the I-540 and I-485 beltways which are 70 mph themselves) when they could bump to 70 mph.
I think it probably has to do with the number of exit and entrance ramps in a given area but I dunno how that would work. There might be an area on I-94 that is still 55 mph but I don't get on I-94 in Detroit that often so I can't remember but I-75 is 70 mph and so is I-696 and I-96.
Around me the speed limit on I-675 in Saginaw use to be 55 mph in the city of Saginaw but luckily it's now 70 mph.
I-94 is 55 in the downtown area: I don't remember how far east; maybe out to Michigan Avenue or so to the west.
I-75 is 55 south of I-94, and then for a ways south out of the city.
Quote from: GaryV on May 23, 2021, 01:29:11 PM
I-94 is 55 in the downtown area: I don't remember how far east; maybe out to Michigan Avenue or so to the west.
I-75 is 55 south of I-94, and then for a ways south out of the city.
I know that I-94 is 55 into Harper Woods and maybe across into Macomb County like after I-696 it goes back to 70 it might be a little before that I can't remember off the top of my head. I'm thinking that I-75 is 55 at least until the Rouge River Bridge.
Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 19, 2021, 11:22:19 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
5. U.S. 30 west of Breezewood, Pennsylvania is a pretty good road, and can be used to shunpike the I-70/I-76 part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike without spending too much time to Bedford. Then PA-31, a pretty good road, can be used all the way to "free" I-70 west of New Stanton.
I have used PA 31 once and was surprised that it was a pretty good road for a PA two-laner...so agreed.
I love PA 31 and am glad to see it getting the respect it deserves.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 20, 2021, 08:33:35 AM
Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis of shunpiking a given route?
I do this all the time
For instance, using US 30/PA 31 does tend add 30-45 minutes as I recall between Breezewood and New Stanton (well, Wyano, west of New Stanton on 70). To me, that's easily worth it, $10.90 less in tolls, plus, I love the scenery on PA 31. Freedom to stop where I want, although I do find the PA Turnpike plazas clean. I also find backroads much more interesting than most highways.
I don't shunpike outside PA as much, especially since our tolls make everything else look reasonable by comparison.
For Ohio Turnpike, using OH 2 to OH 53 adds 15 minutes between Exits 145 and 91. I like Port Clinton and the bridge on OH 2 between Sandusky and Port Clinton.
I also like to use US 24, US 30, IN 49 instead of Ohio Tpk and Indiana Toll Road between Toledo and Valparaiso. I also have friends that live near US 30 in Indiana, so that adds to the "benefit"
I generally don't shunpike, preferring to just take the most convenient route based on destination, traffic, and construction without worrying too much about the relatively small cost of tolls. Since the most convenient routes to/from Chicago so often involve tolls I of course have an I-Pass, and it'll certainly be getting a lot of use when I go to Maine this summer (Indiana Toll Road, Ohio Turnpike, New York Thruway, Masspike, NH Turnpike, Maine Turnpike).
Quote from: sbeaver44 on May 24, 2021, 06:21:59 PM
Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 19, 2021, 11:22:19 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
5. U.S. 30 west of Breezewood, Pennsylvania is a pretty good road, and can be used to shunpike the I-70/I-76 part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike without spending too much time to Bedford. Then PA-31, a pretty good road, can be used all the way to "free" I-70 west of New Stanton.
I have used PA 31 once and was surprised that it was a pretty good road for a PA two-laner...so agreed.
I love PA 31 and am glad to see it getting the respect it deserves.
The part of US 30 between PA 711 and US 219 is rather twisty, but it is fine beyond that section.
I have not driven PA 31 so I will judge that route at a later time.
Quote from: sbeaver44 on May 24, 2021, 06:31:18 PM
....
I also like to use US 24, US 30, IN 49 instead of Ohio Tpk and Indiana Toll Road between Toledo and Valparaiso. I also have friends that live near US 30 in Indiana, so that adds to the "benefit"
It's funny, one of my colleagues grew up in Valparaiso and her parents continue to live there, so she drives home from DC to visit them. I suggested taking US-30 across Ohio because it was such an empty road and an easy drive, but she said she always takes the toll roads because they are "self-contained" with service areas and she feels safer going that way. I suppose it's entirely understandable that a younger woman driving alone is less likely to be interested in exploring empty roads than a middle-aged man is.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 18, 2021, 02:52:31 PM
I don't normally actively seek to avoid tolls these days unless it's minimally inconvenient to do so. With that said, I definitely shunpike the "Tourist Exit" in Maine, i.e., the exit from the northbound Maine Turnpike to northbound I-295 near Portland (Exit 44). Exit 45 is toll-free and takes you less than a mile out of the way, so I go that way if I'm in the area. mtantillo of this forum suggested that maneuver to me.
For me, with my Maine Turnpike E-ZPass, exiting at Exit 44 (as well as 52) can actually vary (https://www.maineturnpike.com/Traveler-Services/Tolls.aspx) depending on where you enter. I usually get on at Exit 32 (Biddeford / ME111) from my hometown for Portland and points north, and using Exit 44 or 45 is $1.00 with a Maine Turnpike E-ZPass, compared to $2.00 for cash and out of state E-ZPasses for Exit 44. It's even cheaper if you enter at 36 or 42 and exit at 44, with the tolls being $0.65 and $0.50 (though at that point I would have stayed on US-1 to avoid the toll altogether).
As for other roads I've shunpiked, from my hometown to Manchester, Salem or Nashua NH, sometimes I go thru Dover via ME/NH 4, then hop on NH 9 to NH 155 to US 4 to NH 125 to NH 101, to avoid the $2.00 ($1.40 for NHDOT E-ZPass) toll on the Blue Star Turnpike (I-95), or $0.75 ($0.53 for NHDOT E-ZPass) if you use the Exit 2 ramp on NH 101.
Additionally, on the Everett Turnpike to Nashua from Manchester, I always avoid the Bedford (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au8ECHMQKds) tolls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryhCnCl4Z1A) ($1.00 Cash/OoS E-Z, $0.70 NH E-Z) by getting off at Exit 13, using the US-3 ramp, then getting back on the Everett Turnpike to my intended destination.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on May 25, 2021, 02:54:09 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on May 24, 2021, 06:21:59 PM
Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 19, 2021, 11:22:19 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2021, 11:52:28 PM
5. U.S. 30 west of Breezewood, Pennsylvania is a pretty good road, and can be used to shunpike the I-70/I-76 part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike without spending too much time to Bedford. Then PA-31, a pretty good road, can be used all the way to "free" I-70 west of New Stanton.
I have used PA 31 once and was surprised that it was a pretty good road for a PA two-laner...so agreed.
I love PA 31 and am glad to see it getting the respect it deserves.
The part of US 30 between PA 711 and US 219 is rather twisty, but it is fine beyond that section.
I have not driven PA 31 so I will judge that route at a later time.
Most of the time I'm using PA 31 is because I'm trying to get to I-70 west of New Stanton, and so it has that advantage vs US 30
I don't mind US 30 either...heck I love the Bedford to Fort Loudon section
On a trip I'm currently on, I've shunpiked the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes by driving on Route 66.
My reward:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210602/f75be73e0bb0c4c9cd7ddd0c5d9b2e25.jpg)
SM-G965U
Quote from: ozarkman417 on June 02, 2021, 04:40:12 PM
On a trip I'm currently on, I've shunpiked the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes by driving on Route 66.
My reward:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210602/f75be73e0bb0c4c9cd7ddd0c5d9b2e25.jpg)
SM-G965U
Isn't it nice when contractor screwups actually result in something
better for a change? (This one lacks the ODOT date stamp at the bottom, so probably a contractor error rather than ODOT for once.)
Did you happen to look at the back of the shield? Sometimes the install date is marked in grease pencil on the back.
^That deserves to be a Facebook profile pic error selfie.
Quote from: ozarkman417 on June 02, 2021, 04:40:12 PM
On a trip I'm currently on, I've shunpiked the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes by driving on Route 66.
My reward:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210602/f75be73e0bb0c4c9cd7ddd0c5d9b2e25.jpg)
SM-G965U
It's beautiful.